No plan to reintroduce N3,000 levy in schools ― Oyo govt

Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran has ruled out calls in some quarters for the current administration to reintroduce N3,000 development levy to assist the government in the running of schools.

Speaking at SUBEB office, Ibadan, on Tuesday, Adeniran said the state was not considering the reintroduction of a levy that will be at variance with the free education campaign promise of Governor Seyi Makinde.

According to Adeniran, the current government took care of the N3,000 development levy that was scrapped with the payment of running grants to schools.

“Every government comes with its own programmes and policies. The re-introduction of N3,000 into the school system is not something this government is considering.

“This is because the government is already paying running grants to schools that will cover that aspect. The government has taken it upon itself, in fulfilment of his electioneering campaign, not to collect any money from any pupil.

“We do not want a situation whereby some student will be denied the opportunity of receiving quality education because of the economic circumstances of their parents.

“Some of us enjoyed free education and the governor said he was also a product of free education programme of Chief Bola Ige and to the glory of God, he is governor today.

“So, he wants these students to enjoy free education under his government and that is what he has done and he is paying the schools running grants to cover that.

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“So, if he is doing that, why the need for the reintroduction of N3,000?

“This government is not considering that because that will be at variance with the electioneering promises made by the governor,” Adeniran said.

Asked about the implementation of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in the state, Adeniran said over 5,000 out-of-school children had been added to the enrolment number in the state’s public primary schools.

He added that the implementation was BESDA would soon see Alamjiris and street hawkers attracted to schooling.

Adeniran explained that the state had identified centres across 21 local government areas in the state where Almajiris and hawkers will be trained.

He pointed out that the centres will become operational as soon as training for teachers to man the centres is concluded.

On improving students’ performance, Adeniran disclosed that the state will from next session have Reading and Writing as separate periods on schools’ timetables.

This is as he said that Open Day, where students, teachers and parents meet, will be also be introduced from the coming session.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE